The WCF was treated to a marvellous talk by champion archer and arrowsmith Mark Stretton, with the intriguing title 'Piercing Plate Armour with Arrows - Fact or Fiction'.

Mark's experimentation left us in no doubt as to the power of the medieval longbow and its effectiveness as a weapon. 

We were privileged to hear about Mark's expertise in making arrows, setting up a range of hands-on tests, and above all deploying his huge skill as an archer.

Mark holds the Guiness World Record for the heaviest longbow draw weight (200 lb) achieved in 2004 at the shooting ground of the Bath Archers.

See also his excellent blog http://markstretton.blogspot.com/

The WCF were delighted to welcome a group from the Guild of Young Freemen to the Hall. Renter Warden Andrew Trapnell and the Master Anne Curry introduced our visitors to the Company and the Hall.

Liveryman Hannes Kleineke's outline of our 650 years (which somehow brought in the M 25!) engaged much interest and amusement.

There was lots of lively chat as we discovered the amazing things our guests were doing in their careers across the world. And we wish them all the very best for the future.

After a gap of two years, the 78th United Guilds Service was held at St Pauls Cathedral on 1 April 2022, with over 20 Fletchers attending alongside representatives of all the livery companies, guilds, and wards of London.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch afterwards at Farmers and Fletchers Hall. The United Guilds Service was first held in February 1943 to help lift spirits. This year's service definitely had the same effect. It was so good to be able to gather together again.

As far as records show, the event in 1943 was the first occasion on which all livery companies and guilds combined to hold a religious service.

It has become a tradition for the Lord Mayor to invite all Masters, Prime Wardens and Upper Bailiff to Mansion House on the eve of the service. The photo shows this year's special menu card created by Maha Hussari, a volunteer at St Joseph's Hospice, Hackney.

On 7 April the Fletchers took a table at the Lord Mayor's Platinum Jubilee Big Curry Lunch at the Guildhall. This lively charity event supports veterans from all members of the Armed Forces and their relatives.

Current service personnel served us a veritable feast of Prawn Mango Massala, Tandoori Chicken and Takka Dal, with all the accompaniments.

We were able to visit various Livery stalls and stock up on goodies of all kinds, and it was great to catch up with friends from other liveries. 

On 17 March a group of Fletchers, led by our Liveryman and Blue Badge Guide Joslin Lewis, walked in the steps of their predecessors of old, visiting various sites in the Royal Exchange area. We visited the Dutch Church, on the site of the Austin Friars where the Fletchers met each year at the Decollation of John the Baptist.

Our walk ended with lunch at the George and Vulture where meetings of the Court used to be held in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Our thanks to Joslin for his expert guiding and fascinating commentary.

On 7 March 2022 the largest ever gathering of Fletchers and their guests assembled at The Mansion House for the 650th anniversary banquet. We were honoured by the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, the sheriffs and their consorts, and representatives from our military affiliates.  A carpet guard was provided by cadets from our RRF and Air force affiliates.

It was a wonderful occasion, with a real buzz in the air. We were inspired by music from the London Banqueting Ensemble, including the traditional Post Horn Gallop, and from Mark Wilde and David Owen Norris, who performed two of our Fletcher Songs.

Our charter and new grant of arms were on prominent display, thanks to the efforts of Deputy Master Stuart Robbens.  HRH The Princess Royal congratulated us on the grant of a charter, and the Lord Mayor raised a toast to the Company, for its next 650 years.

The January Court coincided with Burns Night, but who needs any excuse for a celebration of Scotland's internationally famous poet, as Liveryman Gordon Sharp reminded us in his well phrased Toast to the Immortal Memory.

We were delighted to welcome four newly clothed Liverymen and one Freeman, as well as representatives of our affiliate schools, the RRF and HMS Defender, and to have an excellent meal of Cock-a-Leekie soup, Haggis Tatties and Neaps and Raspberry Cranachan (many thanks to the caterers at the Hall, Graysons). And a piper to pipe in the Haggis, which Past Master Bob Upton splendidly addressed.

All this and singing too, as we launched into two Burns songs - Bonnie Doon and Auld Lang Syne - ably supported by Rebecca Cohen of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 

We were also delighted to welcome the Master Musician, Master Solicitor and Master Gunmaker to what was a splendid Court dinner, where the Master also sang for her supper, setting her speech to Westering Home and the Lewis Bridal Song. The Clerk showed her prowess in Scottish dancing.

A number of Fletcher ladies, members, partners and guests, enjoyed a splendid lunch in the Picture Room of the Athenaeum Club.

We were delighted to welcome the Lady Mayoress, Amanda Keaveny, and Clare Verga of the City Academy Trust as our special 'London' guests.

The Worshipful Company of Fletchers congratulates Alderman Vincent Keaveny on his installation as 693rd Lord Mayor of the City of London, and is immensely proud that the Lady Mayoress, Amanda Keaveny, is one of its own liverymen. Here she is at a recent Fletchers' event with the Master.

We are delighted to support the Lord Mayor's vision: 'Alderman Keaveny will be reinforcing the message that the City of London is a national asset for the UK, accounting for billions of pounds in revenue and taxes and creating millions of jobs across the country – as well as being a unique, cultural and diverse institution. During his year as the Lord Mayor he will promote his theme of People with Purpose. This will champion a purpose-led and people-focused UK Financial and Professional Services sector; growing the global competitiveness of the UK as a world leader in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainable finance and home to the best and most diverse global talent, driving social mobility at all levels.'

Fletchers attended the Lord Mayor's Show on Saturday 13 November - always a lively and fun event - and joined with members of other companies afterwards for an informal lunch at Plaisterers Hall.